Naomi Osaka brushes off French Open scheduling critique

Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka has brushed aside claims of poor scheduling in the ongoing French Open. The former world number one’s journey in the mega-evet ended on Wednesday when she lost to four-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek in a feisty contest with a score of 7-6, 1-6, 7-5.

After the match, Osaka was asked about the schedule, and she stated that she did not find anything wrong with it as her match took place at the same time as Rafael Nadal played his match earlier in the competition. "Umm… I'm not really too familiar with the scheduling here,” she said. “Like, I don't know if the night match is a prime time match but Nadal usually plays during this time so I kind of figured that this was the prime time. So, umm… I, I don't know, I’m just here for the vibes, so, yeah.”

Osaka further expressed disappointment that not enough women’s matches were telecasted live compared to men’s category. “I'm going to get in trouble again, aren't I? Listen, I know they're trying here. I wish they'd try more. It's not something we'll change in a day. I'm watching TV every day. A lot of men matches more than women, and is the truth. I mean, I'm not gonna lie about it,” she said. “I think Amelie is doing an amazing job and is trying to change that, but these things, they take time. I wish I can see the change more.”